Diagnostic Characteristics
Distinguished from I. decidua by leaf shape: I. decidua has leaves that tend to be widest above the middle, with narrowly cuneate bases, whereas I. ambigua has leaves that are widest near the middle, with broadly cuneate bases. Distinguishing this species from I. montana is more complicated; they have often been merged. (I montana has also been known as I. ambigua var. monticola or I. monticola. "Ilex beadlei", found in the southern Appalachians, is classified by Kartesz (1994 checklist) as part of I. ambigua, but has also been included in I. montana as var. mollis or var. beadlei.) I. ambigua and I. montana are best differentiated by leaf and fruit size. I. ambigua has generally smaller leaves (3-7 cm long) and fruits (6-7 mm in diameter) than I. montana (leaves up to 18 cm long, fruits up to 1 cm in diameter). Also, I. ambigua's leaves tend to be wider in proportion to their length (I. montana's usually more than twice as long as wide, I. ambigua's commonly less). The ranges are largely different, as well. "I. beadlei", found in the southern Appalachians, has the leaves densely pubescent beneath. (Radford et al. 1968, Fernald 1950, Gleason 1952, Small 1933, Wunderlin 1982)
Habitat
Sandhills, scrub, dunes, dry hammocks (Clewell 1985).